This prestigious award is presented to one or more ASCLA members (personal or organizational) exemplifying leadership and achievement in one or more of the following areas: consulting, library cooperation, networking, statewide services and programs and state library development.

Congratulations Laura!

Read more at http://ascla.ala.org/blog/2012/04/2012-asclaleadershipaward/.

A new BTOP resource has been released. BTOP’s Connecting America’s Communities Map located at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/BTOPmap/ is now available as a beta application. This resource provides a map which gives a visual depiction of BTOP grant recipient activities within each state. View the national map, select a state from the drop-down list, or enter a zip code and select search. Filter information by connection speed, by the type of institution to be served, or by the type of award. Overlay congressional district boundaries or add a population density gradient overlay to the map. Or toggle all filters on and off using the “Select All Filters” bar.

When first entering the site and viewing the information at a national level note the arrow tabs on either side of the map. Toggle between speed, institution type and award type using the arrows. Or let the maps advance from one to the next based on timing provided by the site.

This beta application also includes a State Dashboard for viewing planned activities and for noting the progress made within a state based on the last submitted annual report. Users can view award information for a selected state and also download summary information on the BTOP awards. When viewing awards for a selected state such as Washington State, the user is taken to another BroadbandUSA page, in this case http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/washington.

From the website, “The content presented in BTOP’s Connecting America’s Communities Map includes data provided by grant recipients, which was submitted during the annual and quarterly report process and is available on the BTOP website. The Map is updated annually and therefore, does not reflect current project status. The Map also contains certain information about planned project progress, and such information is subject to change. It does not include data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), although a list of BIP-funded projects is available on the State Dashboard.” Even though the data is quickly dated once current report information has been posted, the site provides an interesting overview of planned work associated with all of the NTIA awards for a state.

A two page fact sheet on BTOP’s Connecting America’s Comunities Map is available at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/BTOPmap/data/btop-map-fact-sheet.pdf.

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects the status of bills at the end of the conclusion of the regular and first special 2012 legislative session.

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects the status of bills at the end of the regular legislative session. Note that only four of these bills have been passed by the legislature and delivered to the governor for her consideration and signing into law.

The First Special Session of 2012.

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects the status of bills at the end of the regular legislative session. Note that only four of these bills have been passed by the legislature and delivered to the governor for her consideration and signing into law.

The First Special Session of 2012 is scheduled to begin Monday, March 12, 2012.

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects only those bills now still technically alive – all others have been deleted. 

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects only those bills now still technically alive – all others have been deleted.

  Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Those bills in the legislature that are now technically dead after the fiscal-committee cut-off have been deleted .  Only those bills remaining alive are posted.

 Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Established in 1853, the Washington State Library is the oldest cultural institution in Washington, at the service of Washingtonians for almost 160 years. The shelves of the library were populated with books purchased on the east coast and shipped around the horn of South America to Olympia. On July 1, 2002, the State Library became part of the Office of the Secretary of State. We proudly serve all residents in Washington State.

Through the library’s historical collections, both in print and digital, the collection of state newspapers, state and federal government publications, and our Ask-a-Librarian service, the Washington State Library provides a rich variety of material, information and resources for the residents of Washington State and beyond. The State Library serves marginalized people through our prison and state hospital libraries. Our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library provides a free public library service which includes easy access to the informational and recreational reading materials needed by individuals in the State of Washington who are unable to read standard print material.. Our administration of federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds allows us to help library staff all over Washington provide new and innovative programs for the benefit of all of the state’s  residents. Download our One Page Flyer.

Visit us at our Tumwater Central Library or, in Seattle, at our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Discover who we are and what we have to offer you. Let’s connect!  Find out more about Washington State Library programs and resources at http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/default.aspx.